Meine engen Grenzen

Last updated
"Meine engen Grenzen"
Christian poem and hymn
Eckert eugen 2008.jpg
Eugen Eckert in 2008
EnglishMy narrow limits
Written1981 (1981)
Textby Eugen Eckert
LanguageGerman
Melodyby Winfried Heurich
Performed1981 (1981)

"Meine engen Grenzen" ("My narrow limits") is a Christian poem by Eugen Eckert, written in 1981, and made a hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied with a melody and setting by Winfried Heurich the same year. [1] The song, bringing one's shortcomings and limitations before God and praying for a broader perspective, is part of the common German Protestant and Catholic hymnals, and of other songbooks.

Contents

History

The poem was written by the Protestant theologian and minister Eugen Eckert from Frankfurt, who has taken care of students, the football arena, and persons outcast by society. [2] He wrote the text when he, as minister of a home for girls in difficult circumstances, was unable to help one of the girls. [1] The topic is bringing one's shortcomings before God and praying for a broader perspective. [1]

Eckert and Heurich are regarded as prolific authors of songs of Neues Geistliches Lied (New sacred song), and "Meine engen Grenzen" as one of their most successful songs. [3] It became part of the Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch , in Baden-Württemberg as EG 589, [1] [4] and in Rheinland / Westfalen / Lippe as EG 600. [2] [4] It also appears in the German common Catholic hymnal Gotteslob as GL 437, in the section Bitte and Klage (request and lament). [5] The song is part of many other hymnals and songbooks. [6]

Text and music

In the four stanzas of four lines each, "Herr, erbarme dich" (Lord, have mercy) is the final line in every stanza, [7] which is the German version of the liturgical Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison of the mass, a regular part of also of Protestant church services. The singer speaks in the first person, beginning each first line, and most of the second lines, with meine ("my"), and then mentioning something limiting and troubling. The second line always ends bringe ich vor dich (I bring before you). The third line always begins with the request Wandle sie in ... (transform them to ...) and then mentions one positive term. In the first stanza, narrow limits and a short sight (kurze Sicht) are hoped to be transformed to broadness (Weite), in the second stanza, powerlessness (Ohnmacht) and things paralyzing (was mich lähmt) to strength, in the third stanza, lost confidence (verlornes Zutraun) and anxiety to warmth, and finally deep longing for comfort to be transformed to a sense of home (Heimat). [8] The song is suitable as a song of penitence, specifically for the Kyrie of the mass. [6]

The text has been set to music by Winfried Heurich. The melody is in D, undecided if D minor or Doric mode. The range is from low D to high D. The melody begins in the middle, on A, repeated twice and then moving downward in even steps for the first line, in a bowing motion. For the second line, the melody rises step by step to A again, but in faster notes in irregular rhythm. The melody of the third line, carrying the prayer for transformation, is similar to the beginning but intensely from the highest note. The fourth line, the plea for mercy, is similar to the beginning in both rhythm and range, bringing the song to rest on a long D. [7] [2] Lines 3 and 4 of each stanza are repeated. [7]

It was recorded in 2003 on a collection Halte deine Träume fest (hold on to your dreams), a performance by the band Habakuk of all songs from a songbook of the same name by the Dehm-Verlag. [9] In 2006, Gerhard Fleischer created a different melody and composed settings for choir, and for voice with organ or piano. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Neues Geistliches Lied</i> Contemporary genre of German music intended for use in churches

Neues Geistliches Lied, abbreviated NGL, is a music genre of songs in German intended for church usage, and based on contemporary lyrics and with music by contemporary composers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugen Eckert</span>

Eugen Eckert is a German social worker, minister, singer-songwriter and academic teacher. He is known for his lyrics for new spiritual songs, and his oratorios and musical plays.

Winfried Heurich is a German organist and composer. He was director of church music at Liebfrauen, Frankfurt from 1966 to 2000 and composed music for more than 400 songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Dehm</span>

Patrick Dehm is a German Catholic theologian, supervisor and clinical Gestalt therapist. He and his brother founded the Eugen Dehm foundation, supporting a holistic health concept, in memory of their father.

inTAKT is a German ecumenical association (Verein) for the promotion of new Christian songs for church services, and of art, culture and musical education. Its members are mostly hymnwriters and composers interested in NGL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leise</span>

The Leise or Leis is a genre of vernacular medieval church song. They appear to have originated in the German-speaking regions, but are also found in Scandinavia, and are a precursor of Protestant church music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glauben können wie du</span> Catholic hymn (2009); in German Catholic hymnal

"Glauben können wie du" is a Christian poem by Helmut Schlegel, written in 2009, and made a hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied with a melody by Joachim Raabe the same year. It addresses Mary, the mother of Jesus, to be imitated living the theological virtues of faith, hope and love. The song is included in song books and the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gott, der du warst und bist und bleibst</span> Catholic hymn (2009); in German Catholic hymnal

"Gott, der du warst und bist und bleibst" is a Christian hymn with text by Eugen Eckert and a melody by Herbert Heine. It is also known by the title of its refrain, "Wir haben hier keine bleibende Stadt". The song was written in 1993, in the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL). It appears in several regional sections of the German Catholic hymnal Gotteslob, and in other songbooks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamm Gottes, für uns gegeben</span>

"Lamm Gottes, für uns gegeben" is a Christian hymn in German with text by Eugen Eckert and a tune by Horst Christill. It is of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied. The song reflects the liturgical Agnus Dei. It is part of regional sections of the common German Catholic hymnal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesus Christus, Sohn des Lebens</span> Christian hymn

"Jesus Christus, Sohn des Lebens" is a Christian hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied by Eugen Eckert, with a melody by Peter Reulein. The song is an extended paraphrase of the Agnus Dei. It is part of hymnals and songbooks.

"Hilf, Herr meines Lebens" is a Christian hymn, with a text mostly written in 1961 by Gustav Lohmann, and a melody composed the following year by Hans Puls. The song, of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), is part of German hymnals, including Gotteslob, and songbooks. It begins: "Hilf, Herr meines Lebens, dass ich nicht vergebens hier auf Erden bin".

Habakuk is a German pop band from Frankfurt, formed in 1975. The group is focused on new Christian music of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bewahre uns, Gott</span> Christian hymn

"Bewahre uns, Gott" is a Christian hymn with text by Eugen Eckert to a melody from Argentina, of "La paz del Señor". The song of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied, a prayer for protection in hard times, is contained in several hymnals and songbooks ecumenically. Several of these list it as "Bewahre uns, Gott, behüte uns, Gott"

"Wo ein Mensch Vertrauen gibt" is a Christian hymn with text by Hans-Jürgen Netz, written in 1974, with a melody by Winfried Heurich and Fritz Baltruweit. The song of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied was included in hymnals and songbooks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auf zu neuen Horizonten</span> Catholic hymn (2009)

"Auf zu neuen Horizonten" is a Christian hymn with text by Helmut Schlegel, and music by Stephan Sahm. It is of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied. The song is included in the Catholic hymnal for young people, Ein Segen sein, and other songbooks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Was mein Herz schwer macht</span> Christian hymn

"Was mein Herz schwer macht" is a 2001 Christian song with text by Eugen Eckert, with a melody by Jürgen Kandziora. The hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied is contained in several hymnals and songbooks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weite Räume meinen Füßen</span>

"Weite Räume meinen Füßen" is a Christian hymn in German with text by Eugen Eckert and a tune by Alejandro Veciana. It is based on a verse from Psalm 31, "Du stellst meine Füße auf weiten Raum", which forms the refrain. Its topics are the broad perspectives of life. The song of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied is part of many hymnals and songbooks.

"Alle meine Quellen entspringen in dir" is a Christian hymn in German with text and melody by Leonore Heinzl. She wrote it in 1984, based on a verse from Psalm 87, which forms the refrain. The song of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied is part of many hymnals and songbooks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eingeladen zum Fest des Glaubens</span> Christian hymn

"Eingeladen zum Fest des Glaubens" is a Christian hymn with text by Eugen Eckert, written in 1989, and a melody by Alejandro Veciana. It is also known by the first line "Aus den Dörfern". A hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied, it is part of regional sections of the common German Catholic hymnal Gotteslob, and of other songbooks.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Weißer, Thomas (8 March 2015). "Meine engen Grenzen". SWR (in German). Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Meine engen Grenzen (eg 600)". WDR (in German). 17 October 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Frank, René (2003). Das neue geistliche Lied: neue Impulse für die Kirchenmusik (in German). Tectum Verlag  [ de ]. pp. 65–66. ISBN   978-3-82-888573-8.
  4. 1 2 "Meine engen Grenzen". Die christliche Liederdatenbank (in German). 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Meine engen Grenzen (L) / Leben in Gott – Bitte und Klage (in German). Diocese of Limburg. 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Meine engen Grenzen (Kyrie)". evangeliums.net (in German). 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 "Meine engen Grenzen". Gotteslob (in German). Diocese of Limburg. 2013.
  8. 1 2 Fleischer, Gerhard (2006). "Meine engen Grenzen" (PDF). www.neue-kirchenlieder.de (in German). Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "CD Halte Deine Träume fest". Dehm-Verlag (in German). 2003. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.